Coming off of a 24-36 campaign in the shortened Covid-19 season last summer, the Red Sox continue to fly under the radar in Boston. That's a result of a region obsessed with the Brady-Belichick drama while also focusing on the Bruins and Celtics playoff teams.
The Red Sox will not have much more time to hide. With plans to play a full 162-game schedule, the eyes of New England will be focused on Fenway Park come April.
There is hope that 2021 will be more successful. Even as Chaim Bloom continues to balance John Henry's budget, the product on the field this season should be significantly improved from a year ago.
Alex Cora returning as manager will help. It's unfair to blame Ron Roenicke for the 2020 disaster, but young stars Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers have shined under Cora's tutelage already and should both be in line for productive seasons. They'll be joined at the top of the lineup by J.D. Martinez, Alex Verdugo, who had a solid 2020 season after coming over from the Dodgers in the Mookie Betts trade, and Christian Vazquez. This team should be able to score runs.
Eduardo Rodriguez, who missed 2020 dealing with Covid-related heart issues, also returns. A key part of the rotation in the 2018 World Series run and a 19-game winner in 2019, Rodriguez was ascending to be a front line starting pitcher. The early reports out of Fort Myers are that he is feeling healthy, and if he returns to his 2019 form than the Red Sox have an ace. That allows the other pitchers expected to make the rotation - Nathan Eovaldi, Martin Perez, Garrett Richards, and Nick Pivetta - to fall into appropriate spots.
Chris Sale, who continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery, could also provide a boost to the rotation come July. Top prospect Tanner Houck, who had three very good starts at the end of last season, is in line to step in should any of the starters falter.
In the bullpen, Cora will have several arms he should be able to rely upon in the middle and late innings. The trio of Matt Barnes, Adam Ottavino, and Darwinzon Hernandez offers hope and the signing of Japanese reliever Hirokazu Sawamura is intriguing.
Playing in a division with the Yankees, Bkue Jays, and Rays will make for a tough road, but this is a team that has a realistic shot at competing for the Wild Card this season while Bloom continues to shape the farm system and the budget for a bright long term future.
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As a Red Sox fan who still cannot understand the decision to trade Mookie Betts rather than meet his asking price (if he was willing to stay in Boston), seeing the Padres shell out $340-million over 14 years to their prized young shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. was a tough pill to swallow.
Good on San Diego for developing a young star and then being willing to make the financial investment in keeping him for the long haul. The Tatis contract was the cap to an off-season in which the Padres added Blake Snell and Yu Darvish.
In addition to paying Tatis, the Padres have spent big money to add Manny Machado and Eric Hosmer as free agents the last two off-seasons.
Big summer for San Diego. Watching them compete with the Dodgers for the National League's West Division and Pennant should be exciting to follow.
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Trivia. Thirteen players in MLB history have won consecutive MVP awards. Name them without cheating.
Answers below.
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Some early predictions for the awards and playoffs.
AL MVP - Mike Trout, Angels
NL MVP - Nolan Arenado, Cardinals
AL Cy Young - Lucas Giolato, White Sox
NL Cy Young - Blake Snell, Padres
AL East - Yankees
AL Central - White Sox
AL West - Rangers
AL Wild Card - Blue Jays and Angels
NL East - Braves
NL Central - Cardinals
NL West - Padres
NL Wild Card - Dodgers and Mets
ALCS - Yankees over White Sox
NLCS - Padres over Dodgers
World Series - Yankees over Padres
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Come the trade deadline, I think there will be a lot of teams regretting not signing Rich Hill as a free agent.
The veteran lefty has playoff experience and would have been a wise investment for a team with championship aspirations.
If the Rays, who made the wise decision to sign Hill in order to offset the loss of Snell, fall out of contention than they will be able to get contending teams to offer one or two good prospects for Hill's services down the stretch and in to the playoffs.
Makes me wonder why the Red Sox, who needed good veteran pitching, did not make a push for Hill.
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Trivia answer:
Jimmie Foxx (1932-33, Philadelphia A's, 1B/3B/SS), Hal Newhouser (1944-45, Detroit Tigers, P), Yogi Berra (1954-55, New York Yankees, C), Mickey Mantle (1956-57, New York Yankees, OF), Ernie Banks (1958-59, Chicago Cubs, SS), Roger Maris (1960-61, New York Yankees, OF), Joe Morgan (1975-76, Cincinnati Reds, 2B), Mike Schmidt (1980-81, Philadelphia Phillies, 3B), Dale Murphy (1982-83, Atlanta Braves, OF), Barry Bonds (1992-93, Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants, OF), Frank Thomas (1993-94, Chicago White Sox, 1B), Barry Bonds (2001-04, San Francisco Giants, OF), Albert Pujols (2008-09, St. Louis Cardinals, 1B), Miguel Cabrera (2012-13, Detroit Tigers, 3B)
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